TorquayFans.com | Torquay United Fans Forum

The steward did not "seem happy to tootle off" as you put it. As I said he spoke to the one of the two guys about his phone.
If the steward was happy to leave it at that then there would not have been any problem whatsoever.
The problem came because the steward remained at the back of the stand in the row next to where the guy had been sat.
The problem escalated because the steward then started having a go at the same guy because his foot was resting lightly on the top of the seat.
That clearly smacked of the steward wanting to start a problem which wasn't there in the first place.
If you seriously think that action warranted five members of the response team and a police officer to march into the stand and chuck two guys out then I sort of give up really.
I fully accept that it wasn't any of my business whatsoever but sometimes you just have to stand up for what you feel is right.
Several people became irate with the steward in the stand. One guy from block g started remonstrating with him and at least three others in the same stand became angry because of what was happening.
The crux of the matter was that the steward should not have called in the response team. Presumably they are there to deal with crowd trouble - not kick out supporters who have made some minor infringement.
I accept that that the two guys should have left when asked to do so but really is it any wonder they started protesting their innocence.
They seemed shocked by what was happening to them.
Sorry but there are no winners in a situation like that.

Sunnysideup wrote:Im guessing Brucie must be the loudmouthed idiot in the green jacket with a black stripe?
Next time, keep your mouth shut instead of inflaming the situation. The steward appeared quite happy to tootle off having got the guy to delete the picture(s) until you started having a go at him.

and the truth is revealed.

The stewards were absolutely right. Seats are for sitting on, not for putting dirty shoes and feet on, whether on buses, trains, or in football grounds. People have no idea how to behave properly these days; no decency, no courtesy, no manners..

Photography, on the other hand, should be allowed if it is by amateurs for personal non-profitmaking use, providing it is done discreetly: no flashing..

The truth is that these two supporters were treated shamefully and deserve an apology.

brucie wrote:The truth is that these two supporters were treated shamefully and deserve an apology.

I'm sure you're right. Give people epaulettes and they seem to think they can behave like little Hitlers. Give people a little authority and they abuse their power. They forget they are there to serve the public, not to dictate to them. Football stewards are no exception.

On a related note, the steward over on the Popside seemed very keen to make the fellow in the orange jacket very aware of anyone taking photographs. I don't know who it was or what equipment they were using but I do remember thinking that he was being a bit overkeen, almost enjoying it. And at the end I saw a blonde lady in a black talking to two young lads about something they had done which was evidently a criminal offence. Perhaps it was, but all this plus the previously mentioned incidents (which I missed) does tend to contribute towards quite an uncomfortable atmosphere in a stadium where we will evidently struggle to convince 2,000 people to visit on a weekly basis.

Dave_Pougher wrote:Guessing being the key word in a sweeping statement about not inflaming a situation there lol

Dave, I was sat within several seats of the incident. The steward, In my opinion, seemed quite happy that the guy deleted the photo(s) and it was only after the idiot in the green jacket (maybe its Brucie, maybe it isnt) with the black stripe down the arm started ranting on about officious jobsworths that the steward appeared to speak into his radio and request assistance.

I have no idea who decided to send a steward into the stand to stop people taking photographs. It appears that someone did, as prior to him climbing the stairs, he seemed to be getting instructions on which seat to go to on his radio.
If the club (and/or the league) has decreed that no unofficial photography is permitted due to rights issues, then so be it. I think, personally, its over the top but thats life.

I can't believe the critical comments of Brucie on here. He has seen behaviour from a steward that is quite frankly outrageous and petty. If somebody puts their feet on a seat then a capable steward should be able to handle this sensibly and calmly. If the steward's behaviour results in what Brucie saw then it is clear that the steward concerned is not capable of doing his job.

The police were called in. for goodness sake how is that sensible? You can wave ISIS flags, hand out ISIS leaflets and burn poppies in the UK and the police just attribute this to cultural misunderstanding.

This blonde lady, is this the one with the long pony tail, all in black with response or something written on her jacket?

If so the way she talks to people is unbelievable to the point of comical. What does she get from it? Pay her wages and tell her to stay at home it will be cheaper for TUFC in the long run.

Course in PR urgently required.

Sunnysideup wrote: Dave, I was sat within several seats of the incident. The steward, In my opinion, seemed quite happy that the guy deleted the photo(s) and it was only after the idiot in the green jacket (maybe its Brucie, maybe it isnt) with the black stripe down the arm started ranting on about officious jobsworths that the steward appeared to speak into his radio and request assistance.

I have no idea who decided to send a steward into the stand to stop people taking photographs. It appears that someone did, as prior to him climbing the stairs, he seemed to be getting instructions on which seat to go to on his radio.
If the club (and/or the league) has decreed that no unofficial photography is permitted due to rights issues, then so be it. I think, personally, its over the top but thats life.

No disrespect intended, just made me giggle, thank you for giving your side of the story

bobby93 wrote:On a related note, the steward over on the Popside seemed very keen to make the fellow in the orange jacket very aware of anyone taking photographs. I don't know who it was or what equipment they were using but I do remember thinking that he was being a bit overkeen, almost enjoying it. And at the end I saw a blonde lady in a black talking to two young lads about something they had done which was evidently a criminal offence. Perhaps it was, but all this plus the previously mentioned incidents (which I missed) does tend to contribute towards quite an uncomfortable atmosphere in a stadium where we will evidently struggle to convince 2,000 people to visit on a weekly basis.

That was my mate and he didnt even take a photo a. she said something along the lines of "its copyright and next time you can be banned"

Why on earth are people not allowed to take photographs at the game? I do so all the time. I don't get the issue.

Dave_Pougher wrote:Guessing being the key word in a sweeping statement about not inflaming a situation there lol

So do i sometimes. like i tak a video of a penaly so i can review it later. i think its to do with copyright. we have had this rule in the football league but that was the football leagues rule. maybe its a confrence rule. howver if it is for personal use i dont see the problem. we arent making any money or anything out of it.

I don't understand it anymore, when we were in the Football League I believe it was copyrighted by the BBC for the Football League Show, however there isn't any coverage in the conference (bar the live games on BT Sport which we haven't had yet).

Sunnysideup - your assessment of what happened was completely wrong. As has been repeated to you the steward 07 did not request assistance from the response team for anything to do with the two ejected supporters taking photographs on their phone.
The steward looked at one of the supporters mobile phone and there didn't seem to be any particular problem at that stage.
There was some conversation between the steward/supporter but the matter seemed to have been dealt with.
Had the steward then left it at that the matter would have been dealt with. The situation only became "inflamed" as you put it because the steward then started on the same supporter about having his foot on the back of the seat.
The steward was not called a "jobsworth" neither was ,sworn at,abused or anything else for that matter.
Some supporters in the stand did remonstrate with the steward because it was clear that his attitude was "heavy handed" - as I previously stated one of those who spoke to the steward was a Torquay United staff member.
The matter became more heated when the response team arrived - one supporter attempted to put the two lads case to the female member of the response team, but it was evident that she had obviously had cause to miss the "peoples skills" part of her training course. Another member of the response team just stood there laughing which was really quite pathetic.
The police officer who attended remained at the bottom of the stand and did not intervene - probably because he was embarassed as the incident was one of complete "overkill"